Container with elastic memory towards squeezed position

ABSTRACT

An integrally molded squeezable plastic tube is shown which has a body which is made of material having a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;memory&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; and includes a pair of opposed walls. The walls are so molded so that they normally assume their squeezed position. Each of the walls has a pair of opposite end portions. An intervening portion extends downwardly from each of the end portions. The adjacent end portions at each end of the opposed walls are joined to one another. The adjacent intermediate portions extending from one end portion of the walls are molded so that they are normally in closely adjacent relationship with one another while the adjacent intermediate portions extending from the opposite end portion of the walls are molded so that they are normally spaced from one another. An exit opening within the tube is provided adjacent the junction between the normally spaced walls and a cap is provided normally closing the exit opening. A method of making the tube described above is also shown. This includes the steps of obtaining a mold which has a dividing member which is formed with a relatively narrow elongated portion at one end thereof and a widened portion at the opposite end. A liquid thermoplastic material is molded about the dividing member and allowed to harden. The formed tube is then removed from the mold.

United States Patent Richard A. Gordon [72] Inventor 95 W. 3rd St.,Freeport, N.Y. 11520 [21] Appl. No. 720,001 [22] Filed Apr. 9, 1968 [45]Patented Jan. 5,1971

[54] CONTAINER WITH ELASTIC MEMORY TOWARDS SQUEEZED POSITION 6 Claims, 7Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl... 222/95 [51] Int. Cl B65d 35/28 [50] Field of Search222/95, 107, 214, 215, 92, 212; 122/(Inquired); 264/(Inquired);l8/(Coll. tube digest), 58.7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,061,796 11/1936 Roches222/559 2,816,690 12/1957 Lari 222/215 2,966,703 1/1961 Harman...18/58.7 2,743,038 4/1956 Ferries 222/95 Primary Examiner-Stanley H.Tollberg Attorney-I. Walton Bader ABSTRACT: An integrally moldedsqueezable plastic tube is shown which has a body which is made ofmaterial having a memory" and includes a pair of opposed walls. Thewalls are so molded so that they normally assume their squeezedposition. Each of the walls has a pair of opposite end portions. Anintervening portion extends downwardly from each of the end portions.The adjacent end portions at each end of the opposed walls are joined toone another. The adjacent intermediate portions extending from one endportion of the walls are molded so that they are normally in closelyadjacent relationship with one another while the adjacent intermediateportions extending from the opposite end portion of the walls are moldedso that they are normally spaced from one another. An exit openingwithin the tube is provided adjacent the junction between the normallyspaced walls and a cap is provided normally closing the exit opening.

A method of making the tube described above is also shown. This includesthe steps of obtaining a mold which has a dividing member which isformed with a relatively narrow elongated portion at one end thereof anda widened portion at the opposite end. A liquid thermoplastic materialis molded about the dividing member and allowed to harden. The formedtube is then removed from the mold.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an integrallymolded squeezable plastic tube for toothpaste and the like and to amethod of making the same.

Tubes for containing toothpaste and the like have been conventionallymade of flexible metal. Metal prices have, in the past few years, beenrising substantially and experiments have been made to mold tubes ofplastic material. Generally the plastic material employed has beenpolyethylene, polypropylene, or other similar moldable thermoplasticmaterials. However thermoplastic materials generally have a memory" andwill normally return to their unsqueezed condition. For example, if atube is molded of such'material and is thereafter squeezed the materialwill, after a time, return to unsqueezed condition. As a result the userof such a tube must resqueeze air before the material involved isremoved from the tube. I

In the tube of this invention, on the other hand, the memory" of thematerial, for the greater part of its length, tends to bring the tubeinto its normal squeezed position. In addition the construction of thetube permits a slight pressure to be applied to the contents so thatease of squeezing is provided.

On the other hand, the tube is also made, at one end, in normal spacedrelationship so that the contents thereof are not disposed therein underpressure. p

With these and other objects in mind reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which are made a part of this specification.

FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a tube made in accordancewith this invention before the tube is filled with its FIG. 4 is a viewsimilar to that of 'FIG. 3 but with the cap in.

open position.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an alternative type of cap which may beemployed in connection with the tube-of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the cap of this invention taken alonglines 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 but showing an alternativetype of cap which may beutilized in connection with this invention. v

The invention will now be further described by reference to the specificform thereof as set forth in the accompanying drawings. In thisconnection, however, the reader is cautioned to note that the specificforms of this invention as set forth in the specification herein are forillustrative purposes and for purposes of example only. Various changesand modifications could obviously be made within the'spirit and scope ofthis invention.

Now referring to the specific forms of this invention as shown in thedrawings for a detailed description thereof, the tube 11 of thisinvention is formed with a pair of opposite wall members 12 and 13. Eachof wall members 12 and 13 are provided with a pair of end portions 14 atone end thereof and a pair of opposite end portions 15. An intermediateportion 16 extends upwardly from each of portions 14 and an intermediateportion 17 extends downwardly from each of intermediate portions 15.Tube 11 is normally molded so that the normal position of portions 16 isclosely adjacent to one another while the normal positions of portion 17are spaced from one another. In the normal use of tube ll portions 14are sealed to one another.

Adjacent portions 15 is an exit opening 18 which is surrounded by a cap19. Alternatively a cap 19a can be employed which is slidably disposedwithin a raceway 20 and includes an opening 22 therewithin. Opening 22is registerable with o ening 18 and the slidable movement of cap isstoppe by stops 21 on either side of raceway 20. Alternatively a form ofcap 1% may be employed which includes an opening 220 which is disposableselectively with opening 18a. Where cap 19b is employed it will beturnable so as to put members 18a and 22a into and out of registrationwith one another.

The tube of this invention can either be filled through opening 18 withportions 14 sealed to one another or, preferably, portions 14 arenormally moldedin open relationship. The material 23 which is disposedwithin tube 11 is then inserted under pressure through the open portionbetween end portions 14 of walls 12 and 13. After-the tube is filledwith the material portions 14 are sealed to one another.

The tube of this invention is molded in an injection mold which includesa dividing member. (not shown) which is formed with a relatively narrowelongated portion at one end thereof and a widened portion at theopposite end thereof. A liquid thermoplastic material is placed withinthe mold and allowed to harden. The tube is then removed from the moldand has a configuration as shown in FIG. 1. l

The materials of which the tubeof this invention may be molded are anymoldable thermoplastic material. As examples, reference is made topolyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, nylon resin, or any similarflexible thermoplastic resin. The material involved is not critical inthe manufacture of the invention described herein.

The foregoing sets forth the manner in which the objects of thisinvention are achieved. i

Iclaim: I

1. An integrally molded squeezable .plastic container member made ofmaterial having a memory having a body formed with a pair of opposedwall members normally molded so that the memory of the materialcorresponds to the squeezed position thereof, each of said wall membershaving a pair of opposite end portions and an intervening portionextending axially from each end portion and connected to one another,the adjacent end portions at the ends of said wall members being joinedto one another, the walls of one of the adjacent intermediate portionsbeing normally in closely adjacent relationship with one another andthewalls of the other adjacent intermediate portions being spaced from oneanother, exit means within said container and means for selectivelyblocking said exit means so that the quantity of material in saidcontainer can be readily discernible.

2. An integrally molded plastic tube 'as described in claim I said exitmeans being an opening at the end of said tube having normally spacedwalls. i

3. An integrally molded plastic tube as described in claim 2 includingcap means overlying said opening and movable into open and closedrelationship.

4. An integrally molded plastic tube as described in claim 3 saidopening being provided within the joined portions of the walls of saidtube.

5. An integrally molded plastic tube as described in claim 4 1 saidopening being angularly disposed and said cap having an offset matingopening.

6. An integrally molded plastic tube asdescribed in claim 4 said capbeing slidably movable and provided with an opening therewithin movableinto and out of registration with the opening within said tube.

1. An integrally molded squeezable plastic container member made ofmaterial having a memory having a body formed with a pair of opposedwall members normally molded so that the memory of the materialcorresponds to the squeezed position thereof, each of said wall membershaving a pair of opposite end portions and an intervening portionextending axially from each end portion and connected to one another,the adjacent end portions at the ends of said wall members being joinedto one another, the walls of one of the adjacent intermediate portionsbeing normally in closely adjacent relationship with onE another and thewalls of the other adjacent intermediate portions being spaced from oneanother, exit means within said container and means for selectivelyblocking said exit means so that the quantity of material in saidcontainer can be readily discernible.
 2. An integrally molded plastictube as described in claim 1 said exit means being an opening at the endof said tube having normally spaced walls.
 3. An integrally moldedplastic tube as described in claim 2 including cap means overlying saidopening and movable into open and closed relationship.
 4. An integrallymolded plastic tube as described in claim 3 said opening being providedwithin the joined portions of the walls of said tube.
 5. An integrallymolded plastic tube as described in claim 4 said opening being angularlydisposed and said cap having an offset mating opening.
 6. An integrallymolded plastic tube as described in claim 4 said cap being slidablymovable and provided with an opening therewithin movable into and out ofregistration with the opening within said tube.